Lt. Gov. Dan McKee says he'll seek second term

The Democrat announced Tuesday he plans to run for re-election in 2018.

McKee also announced that he'll push for a constitutional amendment to expand the powers of the office. He says he's learning from other states that have effectively structured new roles for the lieutenant governor, many of which could be helpful in Rhode Island.

McKee has focused on helping small businesses and helping homeowners and businesses save on electricity costs.

Democratic state Rep. Aaron Regunberg announced last month that he's running for lieutenant governor, which pits him against McKee. Regunberg led the push for legislation mandating paid time off for workers who call in sick.